It
is hard to believe that it was fifty years ago that The National Bus
Company was formed on 1 January 1969. A new era was launched.

In 1970, the NBC was enlarged when it acquired
the country area buses of London Transport
(as London Country Bus Services),
the bus operations of Exeter
and Luton,
and the Gosport & Fareham Omnibus Company, trading under the name of
Provincial. Created by the Labour Government, NBC was required to
rationalise and standardise bus operations in an attempt to improve
passenger numbers as the rise in car ownership was having a negative
impact on bus travel. Locally, second-hand buses from other NBC
companies were acquired in June 1970. Double decker AEC Regent Vs
from City of Oxford Motor Services and single decker Bristol LS6G
dual-purpose models from Midland General and Mansfield District
appeared at Hoeford. These ‘new’ buses heralded the end for the
ageing Provincial AEC Regents and Guy Arabs. To mark this change,
this month’s choice is one of the former Midland General single
deckers. It became number 4 in the fleet initially then 34 in the
renumbering in December 1970. Seen here as no. 4 at Hoeford depot in
1970, XNU 421 lasted only two more years with Provincial before it
was withdrawn from service.

The advent of NBC and
the effects on Provincial will be covered in ‘Provincial Press’ over
the next few years as it was a significant change in direction for
vehicle purchases and vehicle
types
Photo: Solentslide